blackening

B3L1A1C3K5E1N1I1N1G2

noun

The act or process of turning (becoming) black in colour.

Similar
nigrescencedarkening
UncommonScrabble 19
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Meanings

verb
  1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of blacken
nounblackening (countable and uncountable, plural blackenings)

plural blackenings

  1. uncountableThe act or process of turning (becoming) black in colour.

    Synonyms: nigrescence

  2. countableThe result or an instance of such an act or process; a black stain or mark.
  3. countableuncountableAny of various (dark-colored) surface treatments for metal substrates, to inhibit corrosion.
  4. countableuncountableThe act of defaming or sullying.

    blackenings of my reputation

Synonyms & antonyms

nounThe act or process of turning (becoming) black in colour.

Similar
nigrescence

More synonyms by meaning

nounchanging to a darker color

Similar
darkening
Broader
change of color
Also see
black oxidedarkeningphosphating

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

From blacken + -ing.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

blackening. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/blackening

MLA

“blackening.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/blackening. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “blackening,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/blackening.

Source: blackening on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.